Book-support



(No Model.)

P. 0. PETERSON.

BOOK SUPPORT.

No. 362,226. Patented May 3,1887.

N PETERSw Phmvl-ilhngrlphm Walhingom (LC.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETER O. PETERSON, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

BOOK-SUPPORT.

$PECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 362,226, dated May 3, 1887. Application filed February 18, 1887. Serial No. 228,113. (X0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER O. PETERSON, of the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Adjustable TableflVriting-Desk, and Reading-Stand; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to that class of furniture or furniture attachments in which a flat piece or table-top is attached to the end of a swinging bracket, and is so mounted that it may be brought within reach of the operator and be used when fiat as a table, or may be turned to any desired inclination and there held, so that it may serve as a writing-desk, or with the assistance of an adjustable strip at its base may serve as a reading-stand; and my invention consists in the combination of devices, hereinafter described, and especially in the supporting-frame, to which the table-top is hinged and upon which it rests,and the pivotconnection of said supporting-frame with the main swinging bracket, all of which I shall hereinafter fully describe.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple attachment of this character for use in connection with ordinary tables, desks, and other upright articles of furniture in which spaces can be made for its reception. I have here shown it in connection with an ordinary desk.

Referring to the accompanying drawings for a more complete explanation of my invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the desk, showing the application of my attachment, the table-top being withdrawn from the space 0 and inclined. Fig. 2 is a perspective View, from the back, of my attachment.

A is a dcslgwhich, as I have said before, may represent any suitable upright article of furniture, to which my attachment is to be socured in a space, a, in the desk, which might ordinarily be occupied by a drawer.

B is a bracket or arm, pivoted at b to the rail of space a, so that said bracket may be turned in and out of said space. Upon the other end of the bracket is fitted the supporting casting or frame G, which consists of a hub, pivoted centrally to the main casting ate, and the divergent or radial arms 0.

D is the table-top,consisting of any suit-able surface or piece. Under this top and near its lower edge are secured small pins or pivots d, which are fitted in sockets in the ends of two arms, 0, of the supportingframe 0, whereby said top is hinged to the frame and may lie upon it ina horizontal position, or may be turned up from it to any angle desired. It is held to any inclination by means of a set screw, E, in the frame-arm c, overwhich said screw is slotted a curved guide, 6, on the bottom of the table. By tightening up this screw the top is held firmly in position. Secured to the bottom edge of the table-top is a bar or rest, F, which is attached by means of pivoted parallel links f, whereby it may be moved down in line with the table-top, and be thus out of the way, or may be moved up and extend from said table-top to serve as a rest for a book or sheet of music.

The operation of the attachment is as follows: XVhen not'in use it occupies the space a in the desk, and this space may be entirely concealed by a swinging flap, G, which may be attached to the front of the desk. Upon turning down this flap the swinging arm or bracket B may be turned upon its center I), thus swinging the table-top out from the space and moving it from the desk to any distance desired. Now, in order to bring the tabletop into exact position to suit the position of the user with regard to thelight or other 0011- ditions, the top may be turned by moving it about the central pivot, c, of its supportingframe 0. When it is to be used as atable, the top is allowed to remain in a horizontal position, being fully supported by the radially-extending arms 0' of the supportingframe O, to which it is hinged.

To use the top as a desk it may be inclined slightly and fixed in that position. To use it for a reading-stand it may be inclined to a greater angle, the bar F extended, and the book or sheet thus held in proper position. I am aware that in this class of furniture there is known a table-top which is secured to the end of a pivoted and jointed arm having a horizontal adjustment and adapted to be turned to any desired inclination, and I do not therefore claim such, broadly.

I am aware a desk attachment or book-sup porthas been provided with pivotconnections, whereby said support may have a horizontal movement, said support having also a semicircular guide and set-screw for adjusting it to different inclinations.

Havingthus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A swinging arm or bracket, B, pivoted at one end, in combination with the supporting-frame O, pivoted centrally to the other end of the arm or bracket and having the radial arm 0', a table-tophinged to two of said arms 'at one side of the supportingframe, whereby it may rest horizontally upon said frame or be turned to an angle therewith, and a set-screw and guide for holding said, frame to the angle to which it is adjusted, substantially as herein described.

2. An attachment which forms a combined table, reading-stand, and writing-desk, eonsisting of an arm or bracket, 13, pivoted at one end to a frame or stand, the supportingframe 0, centrally pivoted to the other end of the arm or bracket and having radially-projecting arms 0, the table-top D, hinged to two of the projecting arms 0, whereby said top may be supported in a horizontal position upon the frame O,or may be turned to an angle therewith, the swinging bracket or bar F on the lower edge of the table-top, the set-screw E, and the curved slotted guide 6, all arranged and adapted to operate substantially as herein described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

PETER O. PETERSON. \Vitnesses:

S. H. NOURSE, II. 0. LEE. 

